Published in The Bennington Banner (12/26/25) by Danielle Crosier
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NORTH BENNINGTON — At the Village School of North Bennington (VSNB), the season of giving comes with a meaningful tradition that gives back.
Each year since 1988, students in Pre-K through sixth grade have taken part in the school’s beloved Holiday Bazaar, which provides an opportunity for all students to shop for family and friends while raising funds for charity.
In recent years, the Holiday Bazaar has become a sixth-grade class project, placing students at the center of planning and execution.
Beginning in November, sixth graders reach out to school families and the broader community to collect gently used items – recycling and repurposing these goods – which are then priced affordably between $0.50 and $5.
The class sorts donations into categories and transforms the school library into a festive marketplace in preparation for the much-anticipated event.
On the day of the Holiday Bazaar, the sixth graders assist younger students with shopping and making purchases at the register.
The sixth graders shared that they not only had “a ton of fun,” but also valued helping the younger students and learning the fundamentals of being good shopkeepers and salespeople as part of their experience.
Community members generously donated their time to wrap presents for students, as well.
Some volunteers such as Ginger Haseman and her daughter, Cindy Daigneault, return year after year, even taking time off from work to be part of the event. Both shared how much they truly enjoy participating. In the weeks leading up to the Bazaar, Haseman purchases nearly 100 second-hand, holiday-themed mugs, fills them with candy, and wraps them festively. The mugs are perennial bestsellers, so popular that purchases are limited to two per customer.
Sixth Grade Teacher Tony Kasulinous praised his students for embracing every layer of responsibility. He also highlighted the broader impact of the Holiday Bazaar in spreading joy within the school community and making an impact beyond the school.
After researching more than a dozen local nonprofits and presenting their findings to classmates, the sixth graders voted to donate this year’s proceeds of $852 to the Bennington County Child Advocacy Center (BCCAC).
“Donations are vital to the work we do because all of our services are provided free of charge to children and families in Bennington County,” said BCCAC Executive Director Jenna Caslin. “Community support allows us to expand prevention education in local schools such as VSNB, increase direct supports for survivors, and make much-needed improvements to our building and overall operations. These are areas that are often not fully covered by grant funding streams. Gifts like these help us move our strategic vision forward and ensure that our services remain accessible to everyone who needs them.”
